Open-sourcing Facebook’s Solar-Powered Aircraft Design Tools

What this post added

This post details the open-sourcing of Facebook's solar-powered aircraft design methods (FBHALE) and the underlying multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) framework. It explains the need for MDO to balance competing design objectives like aerodynamic performance and structural mass for high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft. The post outlines the framework's logic, disciplinary modeling (aerodynamic performance, structural performance), and integrated performance calculations, including simulating winter solstice missions. It also presents example applications comparing single-boom and dual-boom configurations and their Pareto frontiers, highlighting the framework's ability to predict optimal aircraft weight and performance based on latitude. Future developments are envisioned in control systems, power systems, and airworthiness certification.